20 Quick And Easy Meals For College Students

Eating in college can get rough, especially if you’re a freshman! After a while you start to get use to having to cook for yourself with limited kitchen supplies, and learn a few hacks along the way. For those days where you are sick of eating campus food, or are just to lazy to leave your bedroom, here are 20 quick and easy meals you can make with no hassle!

Easy Microwave Ideas

The microwave can soon become your best friend as you learn that you can cook almostanything in it.

1. Eggs

I never thought eggs would be something you could cook in a microwave, but you’d be surprised. From Scrambled eggs to poached eggs to eggs Florentine to even an omelette.

2. Ramen/Cup Noodle

Just about the quickest, easiest and cheapest food you can make in college. You can buy a case of these for only a couple of dollars, and they don’t taste terrible. Just add water, microwave and your good to go.

3. “Fancy” Ramen

A few months ago Kylie Jenner made headlines for something other than fashion, which was ramen. Ramen is a staple in the diet of us college kids, so might as well dress it up. She adds garlic powder, butter and an egg to her ramen. And from what I have heard, it is actually quite delicious.

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4. Pasta

This is something I figured out my first semester in college because I was so lazy. I would usually buy that 3-minute semi-cooked pasta so it would be a lot easier. Place your pasta in a fairly large bowl, add water, put it on top of a plate (as it will probably overflow slightly), then let it cook. Cook it at 1 – 3 minute intervals, and just check on it. Then when your done, add some sauce and you’re good to go.

5. Mug Desserts

Microwaves are no exceptions for deserts as you can make cookies or brownies. With preparation these shouldn’t take longer than 10 minutes, and you can always top with some ice cream, or fudge. Or you can take the easy way out and find the pre-prepared ones down the baking aisle (which I am so guilty of.)

6. Pizza Bagel

This recipe is super easy and you only need a couple of things. As you can guess: a bagel, pizza/tomato sauce, shredded mozzarella and pepperoni (optional). Cut the bagel in half. Then spread each half with pizza/tomato sauce, shredded mozzarella and pepperoni. Then microwave for about 1 – 1.5 minutes.

7. Oatmeal

This has been one of my go-to’s, since it is easy when you are in a rush in the morning. You can make your basic original oatmeal, or you can spice it up with some blueberry-banana or peanut butter-banana.

8. Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal

Breakfast. Desert. Snack. You can eat this pretty much any time of the day and it tastes delicious, especially when you are craving something sweet.

9. Popcorn Seasoning

Popcorn is a great snack when you want to spend a night in watching movies with your girlfriend, boyfriend or roommate. But you can add some popcorn seasoning to give it a little kick, my favorite is the white cheddar. You can find seasoning in so many flavors like buffalo wings, ranch, caramel, kettle corn, nacho cheese, or just about anything you could crave. Just toss your popcorn in some light olive oil if it’s not already buttered and add the seasoning powder of your choice!

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Making Use Of Your Iron

Iron’s are no longer just a tool to smooth out your clothing.

10. Iron Grilled Cheese

An iron grilled cheese is made exactly the same as a normal grilled cheese, but instead of cooking it on a stove you cook it under an iron wrapped in tin foil.

11. Iron Paninis

Panini’s can be made the same exact way as the grilled cheese. Just take some bread, and put whatever your heart desires on it. Then wrap it in tin foil and place the iron on it for 2 – 5 minutes (depending on the heat settings and desired crispiness).

Waffle Maker Ideas

If your dorm allows you to have appliances like a waffle maker, you would be surprised what you can cook in it.

12. Waffles

The first and most obvious food is a waffle. However, you can easily spice it up by adding some blueberries or chocolate chips to the batter. You can also top it off with some whipped cream and/or fresh fruit.

13. Cinnamon Buns

All you need for this is some pre-assembled cinnamon buns from the refrigerated section of your supermarket. Depending on the size of your waffle maker, place 2 – 4 cinnamon buns in the waffle maker for 3-4 minutes, or until thoroughly cooked. Then never forget to add the delicious glaze after cooking.

14. Cookies

Similar to the cinnamon buns, you can easily buy the pre-assembled cookies at your supermarket. Place 2 – 4 uncooked cookies in the waffle maker for 3 – 4 minutes or until thoroughly cooked.

15. Bacon

Lay bacon on the waffle iron and cook for 2.5 – 5 minutes, depending on your desired crispiness. Make sure to move the bacon pieces so that the entire surface comes in contact with the iron.

16. Hash browns/Home Fries

To go along with your bacon, you can also make yourself hash browns/home fries from shredded potatoes. Prior to cooking the potatoes make sure you dry them, in order to help them cook and get crispy. Then mix the shredded potatoes in a bowl with salt and pepper (if you pre-grease the waffle iron, mixing in oil is optional.) Then cook for 5 – 8 minutes, or until golden brown.

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No Baking

Nothing is more fun than not having to cook.

17. No Bake Cookies

This Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip no bake cookies is a recipe that I have used many times before, and is delicious. And it beats having to wait 10 – 15 minutes for them to cook (since I usually end up eating most of the dough and don’t have to worry about raw eggs.)

18. Put Things Outside The Window

If you go to school in an area that gets extremely cold in the winter, then you may have a freezer right outside your window. I have placed things outside my window when it gets to be cold, and my room temperature water bottles literally start to freeze within minutes. Quick way to get a drink cold, or keep it cold.

19. Fresh Herbs

Many schools allow you to have plants in your room, so if you go to school in an area where it’s usually sunny out and have a window that gets a lot of direct sunlight, then you can have your own mini-garden. You can grow a variety of herbs, such as oregano, thyme, parsley, basil and rosemary.

If All Else Fails

20. Take-Out

If all else fails, there is nothing better than having someone cook your food for you and deliver it to you.

Can you think of any other quick and easy meals for college students? Share in the comments!

*This is a sponsored link. All opinions are my own.

Featured Image Source: pinterest.com

Hey!! My name is Daniella Pascale and I am a senior at SUNY New Paltz. I am majoring in digital media production and hope to become the next Steven Spielberg of video editing. In my spare time I run my own YouTube channel, which I have been doing for years. I am more of a visual creator than a pen-to-paper creator, but I still love to write. And I hope you enjoy my blogs. <3